Miami Dolphins: 8 Best Trades in Team History

In light of a recent article published here on Bleacher Report, that was recognized in the Palm Beach Post, I felt the need to shine some light on the positive things the Miami Dolphins have done.

The reaction to this article, outside of the criticism that the Welker trade was not a failure, has been that the Dolphins are one of the worst run franchises in the NFL.

Recently, that is probably true, but the Dolphins have made some brilliant moves in the past.

Not all trades can be blockbusters, but a solid value trade is just as good.

As a disclaimer, draft pick trades are tricky because the poor selection of the other team makes a trade look better or worse. So please know that some of these trades were made better by the fact that the Dolphins' trade partners made poor draft choices.

1998: Dolphins Swap Picks with Carolina

In 1998, Miami made what seemed like an odd move at the time. The Dolphins sent their 2000 first round pick to Carolina in exchange for the Panthers 1998 second round pick.

The Dolphins wanted to trade-up and select CB Patrick Surtain.

Surtain had a fantastic career with Miami and is one of the best shut-down corners the team has ever had.

He teamed with CB Sam Madison to form a dynamic duo, and they were a part of one of the most underrated defenses during the early 2000s (a defense that also had Jason Taylor, Trace Armstrong and Zach Thomas).

The Panthers used the first round pick (No. 23 overall) on DB Rashard Anderson. Anderson had a couple of decent seasons but was suspended for two years in a row for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He was reinstated after the 2003 season, but never played in the NFL again.

1991: Dolphins Ship Randal Hill Away After One Game

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In 1991, the Dolphins used their first round pick on WR Randal "Thrill" Hill. After playing in just one game in the 1991 season, the Dolphins sent Hill to Phoenix for the Cardinals 1992 first round pick (No. 7 overall).

The Dolphins used the 1992 pick on CB Troy Vincent.

While Vincent spent the majority of his career in Philadelphia, he had four solid years in Miami first.

Vincent racked up 14 INTs as a Dolphin and was a solid all-around player.

Hill lasted eight years in the NFL, but never lived up to his hype. He even had a second stint with Miami in 1995 and 1996.

While Miami was not able to hang onto Vincent for long, they were able to get four better years out of Vincent than they probably would have gotten out of Hill.

1970: Dolphins Get WR Paul Warfield

The Dolphins continued to land Hall of Famers in trades in 1970 when they landed WR Paul Warfield from Cleveland. The Dolphins did give up a first round pick in the 1970 draft for Warfield, so he was not quite a steal like Little and Buoniconti were.

However, Cleveland used that first round pick on QB Mike Phipps, who lasted 12 years in football but threw 55 TDs to 108 INTs. I do not think the Dolphins were missing out on anything with Phipps.

Warfield, meanwhile, continued his Pro Bowl caliber play in Miami. He was also on the two Super Bowl Championship teams.

What made this trade even better was that the Dolphins got compensation for Warfield when he signed back with Cleveland in 1976.

By 1976, Warfield was no longer a Pro Bowl player and was at the end of his career, and the Dolphins received fourth round and seventh round picks in the 1978 draft for him.

The Dolphins used the fourth round pick on CB Gerald Small. Small went on to have a solid six year career in Miami with 23 INTs.